by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Athletics reliever left the team Tuesday to be with his wife for the birth of their son, Gehrig John Neshek. Then his team improbably won its division Wednesday.

But Gehrig John died Wednesday, about 23 hours after his birth.

"Please pray for my family. Tonight my wife & I lost our first & only son 23 hours after he was born with no explanation," Neshek posted on Twitter.

His wife, Stephanee Neshek, added later Wednesday, "There was no cause of death and I am having trouble understanding why God can let such a thing happen an innocent being."

Neshek had a career season with the A's, posting a 1.37 ERA in 24 relief appearances. He spent most of his career with the Minnesota Twins and a year with the San Diego Padres. He missed the 2009 season after Tommy John elbow surgery.

"Thinking of the long nights in AAA, my TJ surgery & the days when I thought it was over..Makes this the sweetest playoff birth of my career!" he tweeted Tuesday.

The A's said in a statement via the Associated Press, "Our hearts go out to Pat and Stephanee and we share in their sorrow of losing their young son. The entire A's organization will keep the Neshek family in our prayers and thoughts, as they try to come to grips with this tragic occurrence in their lives."

Stephanee Neshek had taken to using the Twitter hashtag "#playoffbaby" in tweets about her son even during labor.

She added Wednesday, in a tweet to @athleticsnation, "Thank you all for your thoughts & prayers. Pat and I have read them all & they will help us through this grief."